the unknow Planet Between Mars and Jupiter | phaeton | Greek myth | zeey

#AsteroidPhaethon#GeminidMeteorShower#SpaceScience

Phaeton is the name of an asteroid or minor planet, officially designated as 3200 Phaethon. It was discovered in 1983 and is interesting because it is the source of the Geminid meteor shower. Phaeton's orbit is somewhat unusual, as it crosses the orbit of Earth.

Mythology: In Greek mythology, Phaeton is the name of a character who was the son of the sun god Helios. He is best known for attempting to drive his father's chariot, which carried the sun across the sky, but he lost control and nearly set the Earth on fire. Zeus intervened by striking Phaeton down with a lightning bolt to prevent a catastrophe.
nusual Orbit: Phaethon has an orbit that brings it close to the Sun, much like the orbit of a typical comet. However, unlike most asteroids, it exhibits cometary behavior, including the ejection of dust and debris. This behavior is thought to be the source of the Geminid meteor shower.

Close Approach to the Sun: Phaethon's orbit takes it very close to the Sun, with a perihelion (closest approach to the Sun) of only about 0.14 astronomical units (AU). One AU is the average distance from the Earth to the Sun, about 93 million miles (150 million kilometers).

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